South Carolina Commissioner, Hugh Weathers, to Speak at SC State's Executive Speaker Series

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

South Carolina’s Agriculture Commissioner, Hugh Weathers, will speak to SC State’s business students during the Executive Speaker Series on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009 at noon in Belcher Hall fourth floor auditorium.

Weathers will speak on the topic: “Agribusiness: Career Opportunities in South Carolina and Worldwide.”

Born in Bowman, S.C., Weathers is a partner in his family’s 80-year-old dairy business and row crop farm. He and his brother also operate a bulk milk delivery business for 30 other South Carolina farmers. Prior to returning to the family farming business, Weathers was employed as a corporate banking officer with C&S National Bank.

Serving as South Carolina’s Commissioner of Agriculture since Sept. 2004, Weathers considers it a privilege to serve South Carolina and to lead the state’s largest industry of agribusiness.

The Department of Agriculture provides a number of programs and services, to include agribusiness development, domestic and international marketing and promotion and small farms development.

Weathers graduated magna cum laude from the University of South Carolina (USC), in Columbia, S.C. He received a bachelor of science degree in Accounting and Finance.

Weathers serves on local, state and national agriculture and business boards and committees.

Weathers is married to the former Blanche Gramling of Spartanburg County, who also learned about farming early on her family’s peach farm. They have three sons - Gill, Edward and Julius who divided their high school years between farming and football. They are members of the Bowman Southern Methodist Church.